Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[carnivore]

I don't really know what color you would call him. He is probably splash but the red it not normal for a Marans.

This is the second roo that has popped up with that odd coloring.

There was someone a long ways back that want to breed splash and splash coppers and if I recall that is the color they were going for in the coppers. It was way off but they didn't care so maybe those birds have been made and are being sold regularly.

Looks almost like it has some RIR blood.

 

[forgetful]

Hello, folks! I'm interested in getting started in Marans and had a few questions. I'm not a new chicken owner. I've owned hatchery stock for several years, hatched my own for the past few years, and last year bought some show quality Rhode Island Reds. I've made the switch from just purchasing and raising random chicks to wanting to further the breed. I'm hoping to find some quality stock somewhere in Louisiana or close to it. I've had bad experiences with hatchery chicks, and I know it's gotten pretty hot, so I want to find something nearby. Do any of you know where I can find high quality birds with good type and egg color/size? I'm not too concerned with perfect feather color, as long as it isn't too far off base. What I'm hoping to find is a line that is consistent. If I hatch thirty chicks, I'd like for them to be fairly uniform. I'd be willing to pay for a breeding trio to be shipped if they are close by. I don't want to stick to a specific color and rule out good breeders around me, so I'd like to see what's available first.

As for my questions: What shape would you say the underline is? Heart shaped? Or should the front end be slightly larger, as shown below? Also, how much bottom fluff is preferred? Do you want as seamless a line as possible from tail to leg? I see some pretty heavy fluff on some birds. (None on this forum. I haven't had time to do much more than skim it. I'm referring to birds I've seen on google.) I suppose what I'm asking is, what is the distinctive shape of marans? I know Rocks are gravy boats and Wyandottes circles, but what is the Maran?



As a side note, I have a lovely Blue Copper Maran cross hen.

She's from my first ever batch of chickens, and a doll.

 

[DMRippy]

I think it is ok to post these here. The Marans club released these a few days ago and said that we can share. This is the BW of what is going into the new APA book.

 

[forgetful]

Those are awesome! I had added some, what I guess to be, early drafts to my post, but they didn't appear. The ones you posted are much nicer and much more descriptive. They also portray the breed as a bit heavier than the ones I found. Do you know when the next book will be released?

 

[DMRippy]

Those are awesome! I had added some, what I guess to be, early drafts to my post, but they didn't appear. The ones you posted are much nicer and much more descriptive. They also portray the breed as a bit heavier than the ones I found. Do you know when the next book will be released?

No sorry.

 

[1stACT]

I don't really know what color you would call him. He is probably splash but the red it not normal for a Marans.

This is the second roo that has popped up with that odd coloring.

There was someone a long ways back that want to breed splash and splash coppers and if I recall that is the color they were going for in the coppers. It was way off but they didn't care so maybe those birds have been made and are being sold regularly.

thanks Donna...He came from eBay eggs so I have no idea what was bred with what. My first and only attempt at hatching eggs. He's a really nice tempered rooster. I wish my other 2 boys were as nice to me and the girls as he is.

 

[Kaylish]

I had the exact same luck lol. I was hoping at least one of the blue chicks would be girls but it didn't happen. I know who's eggs I'm using when I end up with a Broody lol. The whole reason I got them was for their dark eggs lol.

Mine are 13 weeks old now. I'd be SO happy to have eggs within 3 weeks lol.

I'm keeping one roo; the nicest is also the best looking so it's an easy decision. Mine are only 9 weeks though...

I think it is ok to post these here. The Marans club released these a few days ago and said that we can share. This is the BW of what is going into the new APA book.

Thank you very much! This is a huge help.

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Those are awesome! I had added some, what I guess to be, early drafts to my post, but they didn't appear. The ones you posted are much nicer and much more descriptive. They also portray the breed as a bit heavier than the ones I found. Do you know when the next book will be released?

They are a heavy breed. Mine lay XL-jumbo size eggs and are very dense when you pick them up.

 

[jtbass2756]

Having hard time getting a good pict of these 2. The other 4 are really starting to show their copper...and very aggresive especially as a group. Here's what I have...11 weeks old.Trying to turn way!! LOL Neither of these are coloring up much. BUT...I swear one of them sounded like it was trying to crow...as I was penning the other 4 in a separate coop. If so...I may have gotten 1 pullet out of 9 chicks.

Can someone please take a look at these two picts and give an opinion about whether they are both pullets or not?

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I'm keeping one roo; the nicest is also the best looking so it's an easy decision. Mine are only 9 weeks though...

DH says I'm allowed to keep 2 which is hard since the one I thought was a pullet until recently. I get VERY attached to my animals. One boy definitely has too much coppering. He has it all over his chest which I know is a fault. But he also happens to be the only blue one and everyone's favorite. The other two boys, one was a blue chick but grew in really dark feathers. He has very very little coppering at all so far (late bloomer) and is tall and lanky at the moment. The other boy is black with a gorgeous Sheen though a bit too much purple in it. He has stunning dark, reddish coppering coming in on his hackles and saddle area. He's very skiddish though, always had been. I managed to take DH into giving me a year to decide so we can see if any of them go mean. Whoever is mean will be the one to go lol. If nobody goes mean, then whoever had the most faults (unfortunately, my Blue) will have to go.